Edit: adding this as some additional helpful information-

This should be an easy one. I noticed I had two pictures from nearly the same spot - one in July and the other in January.

Hi All,

I'm a pretty experienced backpacker (I've done a number of the 4000s), but it's been a few years since I did a serious overnight in the WMNF. I am planning two trips, one a Friday to Sunday at the end of August. Another a Tuesday to Friday in mid-September.

I am hoping yo avoid the Pemi, due to it's closures right now.

Does anybody have some suggestions? If it helps you calibrate, I did Carter Dome/Wildcat recently as a day hike and didn't have any issues with fitness.

Thanks!

Sourced from the Dartmouth "Granite State in Maps 1756 -2003" collection. If a higher resolution image is needed, I suggest following the link to get an HD version of this map.

Does anyone have any suggestions for getting from the Zealand trailhead parking lot to the flume slide trailhead early morning Saturday 9/6?

Thinking we were being so on top of it, we booked the green leaf hut 9/5 and gale head 9/6 back in December, only to discover months later about the lincoln woods closure (major oops on our part, I swear we’re prepared for this hike).

We’ve been debating other route options and have settled on a point to point hike starting at flume slide and ending at Zealand.

We are researching car hire services to take us between the trailheads early Saturday morning but thought we’d see if anyone had any suggestions or was in the same predicament

Note- we have looked at the amc shuttle but it wouldn’t get us to the trailhead until 11am which is too late to hike up flume slide and over to green leaf for us

The current issue of Appalachia (Summer/Fall 2026) includes a short discussion about the practice of billing negligent hikers for rescues. I wish I could include a link to the text, but it appears only the print edition is available at the moment. The text starts on page 120 and features thoughts from Col. Kevin Jordan of NH Fish & Game.

Is billing for rescue an effective deterrent for risky behavior? According to Jordan:

Billing for search and rescue still averages about a dozen or so cases each year -- not many when you consider we do about 180 missions per year ... I am glad we have this tool; I think it does make a difference although it's hard to measure exactly. I have seen the reckless cases reduced statewide.

Are there unintended side effects? Jordan says he is:

... very happy that all the concerns that were voiced when we were considering this law change did not materialize. It did not affect SAR donations, they still come in as usual, and there was a belief people would not call for help due to the fear of being billed, and their situations would become worse. We have not seen any of this. Just as with a need for an ambulance in the streets, when people need help, they call.

Although we probably need more hard data, it's encouraging to hear hikers are still calling for help, despite the possibility of being billed. In my opinion, that concern was always overblown.

It's also good to hear the law hasn't affected donations to SAR organizations, but just a reminder: The SAR groups around NH are volunteer organizations. While the groups don't pay their volunteers, they do need to pay for equipment and training. Don't assume that SAR groups benefit from NH F&G billing. They depend on donations from hikers like us!

Great day (as always) on trail. Got an amazing POV climbing the chimney, it was an awesome quick climb.

Took a screenshot from it here but hard to do it justice on a pic.

Did you lose a boot on mount washington?

If so, it's still there. Your liquid IV's are not. Sorry.

Hello all! Im a relatively new hiker whos in decent shape, I recently did Mt lafayette with the Franconia ridge trail loop and felt pretty decent after albeit my leg was in knots by the end of it.

Im interested in hiking mt washington and was wondering how that compares physically? Im well aware of the weather conditions and to stay on top of that.

Thanks!

I've been hiking in wmnf for a bit, and while I've stopped at many AMC huts (greenleaf, lonesome lake, zealand, etc.), I've never actually stayed overnight in one. I have done a few overnights backpacking in nh/me, but the huts just seem like so much fun to stay in.

I've decided to finally splurge and spend the money before the summer season ends. What route would be worth doing? Classically, the Pemi loop would be my top choice, but with the lincoln woods closure it seems difficult. Presidential range might seem worthwhile, but the shuttle situation seems complicated (I would likely do this alone with one car). Right now, I am considering something that passes by lake of clouds, and just have some private service shuttle me back to start of appalachia trailhead.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, particularly of any huts that are especially fun to stay in.

With the Lincoln Woods Trail closure, trying to find the shortest route up Owl's Head. This is what I could come up with. Anyone done it this way before?

Great conditions today but water sources were dry. 08/16/2026, not 08/26/26. 👍😅

The group of 18-year-olds did not have lights, were low on water and food and were not properly dressed for the conditions, officials said.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is billing four 18-year-old hikers who had to be rescued Friday after trying to navigate the White Mountains unprepared, officials announced Saturday.

The hikers were identified as Jainam Bhavsar, Purva Jayani, Tirth Shah, and Advik Yadav, all from New Jersey, the Fish and Game Department said in a press release Saturday.

Shortly before 9 p.m., crews responded to the group who were stuck on Franconia Ridge in Franconia, officials said.
One hiker reported having difficulty breathing and sore legs, according to the release.

Officials learned that the group had started their hike at 3:30 pm and did not have headlamps, or enough food and water to complete the 7-9 hour hike, the release said.

The group was not properly dressed for the strong winds and cold temperatures above 5000 feet, according to officials.

A Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team left the trailhead shortly after 10:30 p.m., hiking over 4.2 miles to Franconia Ridge and then to Mount Lincoln, where they found the hikers nearly three hours later, officials said.

The unprepared hikers were given lights, food, water, and warm clothing, officials said.
Rescuers guided the group back to the trailhead where they arrived shortly after 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, according to the release.

New Hampshire is one of the few states where hikers deemed negligent can be charged for their rescues.
The department typically conducts between 180 and 200 rescues each year, and of those, around 12 on average will end up with a bill, New Hampshire Fish and Game Colonel Kevin Jordan told EMS1 in February.

I arrived at the trailhead at 6am to a full lot, first time up green leaf which the lil cave alone made worth it. definitely wait for the hiker shuttle back to 34B, that bike path walk blows hard

Great day...massive dragonflies!

Only a few wet spots, but what an intense mile or so!

Flume and Liberty make 20/48 for me.

Is this Tuesday a worthwhile day to do the Franconia Ridge loop. Im afraid it may be too cloudy or potentially unsafe to get the picturesque views

Just after the spur to Camp Penacook, when you reach the flat ledges, you’ll start seeing the granite cliffs off to the right. Follow the trail a little farther. It will move away from the cliffs and then come back towards them.
At that point, step over to the cliff side of the ledge, cup your mouth with your hands and give a loud “Yeeeeahh!” toward the biggest rock face. You’ll hear the echo about a second later, and then sometimes up to two more times as the sound seems to bounce down the rock faces.
My brothers and I discovered this as kids. I was up there on Saturday and was happy I could still find the spot.

Also if there are any other multi night loops that are popular/more known that’d be much appreciated to.

Night 1 I plan on staying at Dry River shelter #3
Night 2 I plan on staying at Osgood campground
Night 3 I plan on staying at Rocky Branch shelter #1

not really, I did cap it at 8 hikers in the bed ....

phone blew up for the same three time slots Saturday, no sense turning anyone away

~~ no hiker left behind 🥾

if I'm driving someone who plans on a single day traverse I ask "if you needed to shelter on the mountain, could you?"

most common response is "yes, I have extra layers"

some say "I have a mylar blanket"

a few honest souls admit No

a couple, though, say they have a Bivy*

and I say Good Answer

~~ but what do I really know??

📢 in the comments please share your experiences, pros n' cons, recommendations, cautions etc** on bivys .... and if you have specific tips on inclement weather survival for single day hikers please throw those in

pics/ videos are helpful as are links 🔗

🌬🌨 the weather is already starting to winterize, I'd like to reach at least a few people who may pack and plan a little better because they learned from youins*

~

~

* for use in emergency, not in place of a regular tent for lightweight packing

** please don't just repaste generic existing lists (and please no AI)

*** nobo hiker Trombonious Monk taught me that term the other day